Up to 2% of Americans suffer from psoriasis, a skin condition that leads to an intensely itchy rash with clearly defined borders and scales that resemble silvery mica. The fingernails are also frequently involved, showing pitting or thickening.

Medical treatment for psoriasis includes applications of topical steroids and peeling agents that expose the underlying skin for the steroid to contact. Ultraviolet light can also be used, sometimes combined with coal tar applications or medications called psoralens. Synthetic relatives of vitamin A and vitamin D are also used.

Principal Proposed Natural Treatments

Oregon Grape

Evidence from two
double-blind, placebo-controlled trials
and one comparative trial suggest that cream made from the herb Oregon grape (
Mahonia
) may help reduce symptoms of psoriasis, although it does not seem to be as effective as standard medications.

In a double-blind study published in 2006, 200 people were given either a cream containing 10% Oregon grape extract or placebo twice a day for 3 months.
27
The results indicate that the people using Oregon grape experienced greater benefits than those in the placebo group, and the difference was statistically significant. The treatment was well tolerated; although, it caused rash or burning sensation in a few people.

Benefits were also seen in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 82 people with psoriasis.
11
However, the study design had a significant flaw: the treatment salve was darker in color than the placebo, possibly allowing participants to guess which was which.

Another study found that dithranol, a conventional drug used to treat psoriasis symptoms, was more effective than Oregon grape.
12
Regrettably, the authors fail to state whether this study was double-blind. Forty-nine participants applied one treatment to their left side and the other to their right for 4 weeks. Skin biopsies were then analyzed and compared with samples taken at the beginning of the study. The physicians evaluating changes in skin tissue were unaware which treatments had been used on the samples. Greater improvements were seen in the dithranol group.

A large
open study
in which 443 participants with psoriasis used Oregon grape topically for 12 weeks found the herb to be helpful for 73.7% of the group.
13
Without a placebo group, it's not possible to know whether Oregon grape was truly responsible for the improvement seen, but the trial does help to establish the herb's safety and tolerability.

Laboratory research suggests Oregon grape has some effects at the cellular level that might be helpful in psoriasis, such as slowing the rate of abnormal cell growth and reducing inflammation.
14,15

For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full
Oregon grape
article.

Other Proposed Natural Treatments for Psoriasis

Aloe

Aloe vera
cream may be helpful for psoriasis, according to a double-blind study performed in Pakistan that enrolled 60 men and women with mild to moderate symptoms of psoriasis.
19
Participants were treated with either topical
Aloe vera
extract (0.5%) or a placebo cream, applied 3 times daily for 4 weeks. Aloe treatment produced significantly better results than placebo, and these results were said to endure for almost a year after treatment was stopped. The study authors also reported a high level of complete "cure," but what exactly they meant by this was not reported clearly.

However, a follow-up study of 40 people that attempted to replicate these results failed to find aloe more effective than placebo.
29
For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full
Aloe
article.

Cayenne

Capsaicin is the “hot” in cayenne pepper. Creams made from capsaicin are used to treat a number of pain-related conditions. Some evidence indicates that capsaicin cream may be helpful for psoriasis as well.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of almost 200 people found that use of topical capsaicin can improve itching as well as overall severity of psoriasis.
21
Benefits were also seen in a smaller double-blind trial.
22

Fish Oil

An 8-week,
double-blind
study followed 28 people with chronic psoriasis.
1
Half received 10 capsules of fish oil daily, and the other half received a
placebo
. By the end of the study, researchers saw significant improvement in itching, redness, and scaling, but not in the size of the psoriasis patches. However, another double-blind study followed 145 people with moderate to severe psoriasis for 4 months and found no benefit as compared to placebo.
2

For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full
Fish Oil
article.

A somewhat toxic natural substance called fumaric acid is sometimes recommended for psoriasis as well.
Vitamin A
or special forms of
vitamin D
taken at high levels may improve symptoms, but these are dangerous treatments that should be used only under the supervision of a physician.

People using the drug
methotrexate
for psoriasis frequently develop nausea, mouth sores, and other side effects. Evidence indicates that taking
folate
supplements may help.
23

Seal oil has shown a hint of promise for treatment of psoriatic arthritis (a type of joint pain and inflammation that can occur in association with psoriasis).
28
.

Although case reports suggest that
acupuncture
might be useful for psoriasis,
24
a controlled trial failed to find acupuncture more effective than fake acupuncture.
25
Another small study suggested that the
Chinese herbal
decoction Qinzhu Liangxue may be helpful in selected patients with psoriasis, though this finding is highly preliminary.
33

Herbs and Supplements to Use Only With Caution

Various herbs and supplements may interact adversely with drugs used to treat psoriasis. For more information on this potential risk, see the individual drug article in the
Drug Interactions
section of this database.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.